White cement update

White cement reportedly accounts for 1% of total cement demand, equivalent to ~35 million t. Its use is more prevalent in some regions than in others – for example the Mediterranean region and the Middle East – but it is finding new markets as technology and design advances. In India, for example, white cement capacity is just 1 million t, produced by JK Cement and UltraTech Cement, but growth is anticipated at 10% pa over the next few years.

The following presents some news highlights from the international white cement industry.

Turkey

Last year, Çimsa became the first Turkish company to join the WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative. General Manager Mehmet Hacikamiloglu said, “Being the first Turkish cement company that became a member of CSI, which carries on comprehensive works in sustainable development in our sector, is very important for us. As a part of the CSI, which works with a conscious that understanding and managing the sustainability subjects correctly is a prerequisite for development and growth in the sector, we will take firm steps towards the sustainable future.”

Furthermore, having acquired Afyon Çimento in 2012, Çimsa is undertaking a ‘moving and modernisation’ project. Afyon Çimento’s General Manager, Mutlue Dogruöz, said: “Our Board of Management decided to move our Afyon Çimento factory to a modern production facility in Halimoru Village to equip the factory with state-of-the-art technologies and make our production more efficient.” The new plant, which will require an investment of some US$150 million, will be launched in early 2016.

In other news, Çimsa has been awarded four prizes at the ‘Blue Helmet Occupational Safety Competition’, which is organised by the Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association to recognise outstanding plants in the field of occupational health and safety.

India

JK Cement plans to boost market share by expanding its capacity as demand for white cement is anticipated to grow by 10% this year. Through capacity expansions at its Haryana and Mangrol plants, both due for commissioning this year, the company is adding 3 million t of additional capacity. Its white cement capacity will be increased from 0.4 million t to 1.2 million t.

UAE

In addition to its expansions at home, JK Cement is in the midst of a greenfield project in Fujairah, UAE. The new plant is capable of producing 0.6 million tpa of white cement or 0.9 million tpa of grey cement. Commissioning was scheduled for March 2014. Meanwhile, RAK White Cement is expanding its kiln II capacity by 150 000 t with an investment of AED65 million.

Belgium

CBR, part of the HeidelbergCement Group, has announced that it plans to close its Harmignies white cement plant in Belgium. Structural difficulties, high logistics and production costs have all contributed to creating a challenging environment for the plant, which underwent a number of restructuring measures and cost-efficiency investments before the decision was taken to begin consultation on the plant’s closure.

Italy

Cementir announced in September that 46% of its share capital in the Turkish subsidiary Cimentas AS would be transferred to the Danish group, Aalborg Portland A/S, which is wholly controlled by Cementir Holding SpA. The Aalborg Portland group now holds 71% of the Cimentas group. Meanwhile, the company has entered into a strategic partnership with Adelaide Brighton Cement, which acquired a 30% stake in Aalborg Portland Malaysia. The two companies have agreed a 10-year supply agreement for white clinker, commencing in 2015, to replace Adelaide Brighton’s domestic production. Aalborg Portland Malaysia is progressing with a self-funded US$18.6 million project to expand white clinker capacity from 2015.

In Cementir’s 2014 – 2016 Business Plan, one of the key priorities is named as consolidating the Group’s leadership in the white cement market. The company forecast revenue of around €1 billion in 2013 and is targeting average growth of 5% pa in 2014 – 2016, bringing revenues to €1.15 billion by 2016. This growth will be largely achieved across the emerging markets, which are expected to account for 45% of revenue at the end of 2016.

Uzbekistan

A new cement plant has been inaugurated in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, which will produce 760 000 tpa of grey cement and 350 000 tpa of white cement. Some 70% of the plant’s product will be exported. The plant is owned by Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex and was built by Turkey’s Dal Teknik Makina for an investment of US$114 million. It is reported to be the most advanced cement plant in the country and incorporates an MPS 3350 B vertical roller mill for raw meal from Gebr. Pfeiffer SE.

Written by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/29042014/white_cement_update_97/